Door check and holding device



March 23, 1943. LARSON DOOR CHECK AND HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 4102501 [0R5 0N Q6WW ATTORNEY March 23, 1943.

A. LARSON 2,314,544

DOOR CHECK AND HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' 4 INVENTOR fi/YDEZEW LH/PJON ATTORNEY March 23, 1943. A. LARsoN 2,314,544

DOOR CHECK AND HOLDING DEVICE file-Iuna 2, 1941 3 She'ets-Sheet 3 IN ENTOR M ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE noon onsets AND HoLnmG DEvioE Andrew Larson, Tacoma, Wash. Application June 2, 1941, Serial No. 396,260

13 Claims.

This invention relates to door closing and checking means, and it has reference more particularly to improvements in devices to be used in conjunction with spring actuated door closing means for holding a door at any one of a number of different open positions, the present application being a continuation in part of my application filed under Serial No. 291,200, on August 21, 1939.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide simple, practical, efi'icient and durable means for use in conjunction with door checks of the type of that of the above mentioned-application, for holding a door at a set, open position.

The further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for use with spring actuated door checks and closing means for holding a door at a definite open position and which will be automatically released from door holding position and returned to off position by the manual application of opening or closing pressure against the door.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts of the latch or holding device and in its mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above and other objects of the invention I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in reduced scale, showing, in elevation, the mounting of a door check and holding device, embodying the present invention on a door.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the door check and holding means, and illustrating the connection of the device with a door and door casing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical cross-section of the door closing and checking device illustrating therein the present preferred construction of the latch means for holding the door in an open position.

Figs. 4, and 6, are cross-sectional views, taken respectively on the lines 44, 55 and 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line '77 in Fig. 6, particularly illustrating the latch lever and its releasing means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental detail, in plan view of the latch elements.

Fig. 9-is a sectional detail of a door holding,

latch mechanism of an alternative form of con-' struction."

natedas the piston compartment.. .Theparti- Fig. 10 is a horizontal section, on the line Ill-,- l0inFig.9.

In illustrating the present typesof door holding latch devices, I have, illustrated them as em; bodied'with a door closing and checking; device;

that is spring motivated and wherein the rate of closing of the door is dependent upon therate of flow of a liquid. medium, such as oil, through a restricted passage or passages. I It is to beunderstood, however, that While the illustrated. type of door check is the one now most preferred by me, the present door holding means is not to be confined in its use thereto, but may be adapted to and used .withthe same results along with various type of door checks employing springs brother means tocause the door to ,be urged from any open position towardits closed position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: The device in its present preferred form of construction comprises a substantial metal hous-. ing 1 of cylindricaliorm provided .at. one, side with an integral baseportion 2 having lateral ,fianges 2a. through. which; mounting screws, or. the like, as shown at.,3 in Fig. 1-, may be applied to functionally'attachthe housing to a .hingedly, mounted door, or the like, as hasbeen designated in Fig. 2 by reference character 4.; The housing .I. is. formed with av cylindrical chamber extending vertically therethrough, which chamber is .closed at the lower. end by ,a disk or head platefiheldinplace by .a clamping ring Bdthat is threaded onto the lower end portion of the housing. as shown best in Fig. 3. A gasket 1 is interposed between the plate 6 and the lower end of the cylindrical housing to seal the joint against any possible leakage of liquid .medium from the chamber.

The upper end of the cylindrical chamber is closed-by a cap or plate 'ID that is applied flatly against the upper end'of the housing end which is" secured-in place by screws' ll. Aj gasket may beinterposed between the plate liland cylinder --end. if' such iS' necessary to insure aga'ifist'lak age.

' At a location somewhat below 7, the central pl be n th u rand w r e s of he. housing, a horizontal partition wall l3 divides *the cylindrical chamber of the housing into up per and lower compartments, the upper compart ment [4 being designated as the spring compartment', and the lower compartment I5 being desigtion l3 may be either an integral part of the housing or an inserted member secured by suitable means in fixed position.

Extending co-axially of the cylindrical chamber is a shaft [3 which, at its lower end, is revolubly fitted in a socket I9 in the lower end plate 6. This shaft also extends through the partition wall [3 and is there revolubly contained in a bearing sleeve extending upwardly from the partition. Along its upper end portion the shaft is revolubly contained in a sleeve 2! fixed at its upper end to a spring tensioning disk 22 that horizontally overlies the plate In. This sleeve extends revolubly through an opening 23 in the plate I0, and the upper end portion of the shaft 13 extends beyond top surface of the disk 22, and is squared as at 24 and terminates in a threaded shank 25. A horizontally extending lever arm is formed with a square hole, in which the squared portion 24 of the shaft [8 is fitted and a nut 32 is threaded onto the shank 25 against a washer 33 to hold the lever functionally in place and locked to rotate with the shaft 18.

The lever arm 38 extends substantially beyond the disk 22 and at its outer end is pivotally connected by a vertical bolt 34 with a link 35 which provides connection through the mediacy of a horizontal bolt 36 with a rod 31 of adjustable length attached pivotally as at 38 to a link 39 mounted pivotally in a bracket 40 fixed to the door casing 4|.

The arrangement and connection of levers and links as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is such that upon opening or closing the door, the shaft l8 will be caused to rotate in the housing in accordance with the degree to which the door is moved.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that a bolt 44 is threaded downwardly through the lever arm 30 and is provided at its lower end with a stud 44 adapted to be contained in any one of a plurality of spaced holes 45 formed in the disk 22 in a circle that is co-axial of the shaft 18, thus to provide that upon opening and closing the door, the disk 22, sleeve 2| and shaft l8 will rotate together in the same direction, and in accordance with the movement of the door.

Fitted rotatably within the piston chamber l5 and mounted on the lower end portion of the shaft I8 is a piston plate 58. This comprises a segment of metal as noted in Fig. 6 that is mounted on the shaft I8 by two studs 5 l There is also a statorblock, or plate 54 fixed in the chamber l5 between the shaft 13 and chamber wall to co-act with the piston as presently understood. This stator comprises a block segment like the piston, and it is held in place by a key 55 seated in a slot in the chamber wall and a slot in the stator.

Located in the spring chamber 14 co-axially about the shaft [8 and one within the other are two coil springs 60 and El, which effect the door closing action. The outer spring coil 65 terminates at its upper end and in an outwardly turned hook 62 that seats in a notch in the chamber wall as indicated in Fig. 4. At its lower end, the spring 68 has an inturned hook 64 seated in a notch 65 in an extending horizontal flange 66 of a collar 66 that is rotatably fitted about a bushing 61 which, in turn, is revolubly fitted to the shaft l8 and rests upon the upper end of the bearing sleeve 26. The lower end of the inner spring 6| terminates in an inturned hook 68 that seats at a hole 69 in the collar 66. Thus the collar 66 serves as a connecting means for the lower ends of the two springs. At its upper end the spring BI terminates in an inturned hook l8 seated in a of the lever and which is keyed thereto as at 13 in Fig. 3. The sleeve 12 is formed at its upper end with a flange l2 and this is rotatably enclosed in a collar ring 14. The sleeve 12 and collar 14 bear upwardly against the under side of the plate I 9.

The arrangement of springs 50 and GI and their connections is such that one is in effect in continuation of the other. The closing force to be exerted on the door is in accordance with the tension afforded through the springs 60 and GI and this may be decreased or increased by rotative adjustment of the disk 22 when detached from the lever 36 by removal of the bolt 44. After a desired tension has been placed on the spring by the adjustment of the disk, the bolt 44 is applied in the lever end to one of the disk holes 45 to retain the tension.

Formed through the partition wall [3 at opposite sides of the stator plate 54 are ports 15 and 16. The port 16 which is that side of the stator toward which the piston swings in the door closing operation is adapted to be closed against back flow of liquid from the lower to the upper chamber by a, ball check valve 11. y

The partition wall I3 is also provided with a plurality of holes openingto the upper and lower chambers for flow of the fluid medium employed, and these are circularly arranged about the axis of the shaft 18. Also, fitted rotatably about the bearing hub portion 23 upon the wall I3 is a disk 8| having ports 32 therethrough designed to be adjustably registered with the ports 80, and a nut 83 is threaded onto the bearing hub and this holds the disk 8| at an adjusted position and fitted in a liquid type joint to the partition wall.

In use of the device a suitable liquid medium such as oil fills the piston chamber and at least partially fills the spring chamber.

- With the understanding that the door closing movement under the spring action is in accordance with the rate of ejection of liquid from the piston chamber ahead of the piston as the door closes, it will be understood that this closing speed will be governed to a certain extent by the area of the openings provided by the co-action of the disk 8| and the partition Wall 13.

In order that the door may be held in an open position against the closing influence of the springs when such is desired, I provide the holding devices which embody the objects of the present invention. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 7 and 8, it will be observed that, formed in the base portion 2 of the check housing is a vertical channel I04) in Which a lever arm I0! is longitudinally disposed. This lever is Divotally mounted at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends on a transverse pivot pin I02. The upper end portion of the lever arm extends from the upper end of the channel I00 to the periphery of the disk 22. The disk 22, as has been best shown in Fig. 8, is formed about its periphery with a succession of equally spaced teeth 22a, and the lever arm HJI is formed throughout it length with an inwardly opening channel with opposite side Walls USP-Jill. The spacing of these side walls of the lever arm is such as to receive a tooth of the disk 22 between them as noted in Fig.8.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4 i served that a spring IE5 i 1l'l0llnt! d pin [62 and th y e pivot lS spi mg has opposite end portions engaging respectively with a side wall of th channel H20 and with a lug I56 on the upper em? to yieldingly urge the upper end of the lever arm against the disk. Contained slidably, for vertical movement, in the lower end portion of the channel I is a latch plate I 08 having a shank portion I09 extending downwardly and through an opening III] at the lower end portion of the channel I30. A coil spring H2 is contained in the lower end portion of the channel, and this bears upwardly against the plate I08. The upper end portion of the plate is formed with an extending shoulder II3 against a side edge of which the lower end portion of the lever IIlI may engage, and when so engaged with the shoulder, its upper end will be retained disengaged from the disk 22. This edge is inwardly inclined to slight degree.

Extending transversely through the lower end portion of the shank I09 is a release lever I I5 shown best in Fig. 7, and attached to one end of the lever is a pull cord II6. This provides that upon pulling downwardly on the cord II6, the lever I I5 will function as a lever to pull the latch block IE8 downwardly, thus to disengage the block shoulder H3 from the lower end of the lever IiII permitting the upper end of the lever to be actuated into holding engagement with a tooth of the disk 22. Thus, it will be understood that, with the latch lever held disengaged, when the door has been actuated to an open position, should it be desired to hold it in that position, it is only necessary to disengage the block I 08 from the latch lever arm IIiI in order to permit the lever to functionally engage and hold the disk 22 against rotation, and this holding of the disk will, through the mediacy of the lever 30 and its connection with the door casing, hold the door in that open position.

When the block I08 is actuated downwardly incident to a pull on the cord II6 permitting the lever arm IEII to assume its locking position, the lower end portion of the lever IIlI then assumes a position at which it will retain the block against return to its upper, or normal locking position.

Now, assuming that it is desired to close or open the door to a further extent, it is only necessary to manually apply a closing or opening pressure against the door which is suflicient to overcome the holding effect of the lever IIlI. It will be understood by referring to Fig. 8 that the side surfaces of the teeth of the disk 22 are so sloped or beveled that they will have a camming action on the side surfaces of the channeled upper end of the lever which will cause it to be disengaged from the disk under this manual pressure. Thus, when the lever is rocked outwardly at its upper end, the inner end swings inwardly and frees the block I68 for upward action under the pressure of the spring II2. Thus the lever will be locked by the block shoulder, in its released position, and the door may then swing freely under the influence of the springs 60 and BI. However, at any time that it is desired to lock the door at any definite open position, this can be accomplished merely by pulling on the cord II6 to release the block shoulder from the lower end of the lever IGI.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated an alternative iorm of latch construction. This device comprises a vertical bolt I30 contained slidably in a vertical bore I3I in the base portion of the check housing. At its upper end the bolt rotatably mounts a toothed star wheel I32. The bolt is formed with a downwardly facing shoulder I33 and a coiled spring I34 encircles the bolt and bears upwardly against the shoulder and against the-base of the bore to urge the bolt upwardly to retain the star wheelagainst the under side of the peripheral portion of the disk 22m. The disk in this instance is formed on its underside with spaced radial notches I35, and. any two adjacent teeth of the star. wheel may en-. gage in adjacent notches when the bolt is released and actuated by spring I34 to locking position, to hold the disk yieldingly against rotation and thus hold the door at a set open position.

The star wheel is held yieldingly against rotation by the pressure exerted upwardly on the' bolt I33 by spring I34 and also by the pressure of a bolt 0r pin M0 that is slidably contained in a bore I42 formed in the bolt I36 and urged against the wheel by a coiled spring I43 contained in the bottom of the bore I42 and acting against the pin asillustrated in Fig. 9.

The teeth of the star wheel I32 are formed with radially curved opposite side surfaces, and the design provides that incident to applying a hard push against the door,'the force applied through the lever 30 and disk 223: will cause the star wheel to be rotated. This rotation of the star wheel causes a slight depression of the bolt I33 against the force of spring I34 and bringsabout the resetting of the bolt to its normally released position thus permitting the normal movement of the door under control of the check device.

The re-setting action of the star wheel when rotated and whereby the bolt i3@ is returned to retracted position, and the star wheel held in the clear of disk 22x, is by reason of the fact that incident to rotation of the star wheel and depression of the bolt I30, the latter will be brought into engagement at its lower end with a holding latch bar I 21.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 9 and 0 that the lower end portion of the bolt I30 has a length 538 of reduced diameter, formed with a laterally opening notch E55 and a square cut upwardly facing shoulder I53 at the lower end of the notch. It will further be seen that the latch bolt I2! is slidably contained in a horizontal bore I58 in the housing, and this bolt has a laterally opening notch i59, the inner end wall of which is designed normally to engage the shoulder I56 to hold the bolt I30 retracted against the pressure of spring I3 2, and the star wheel held clear of the disk 220:. When it is desired to hold the door in a set open position, the bolt I2! is shifted inwardly in its bore to disengage the inner end of the notch I59 from the shoulder I55 thus permitting the spring I34 to actuate the bolt I30 upwardy and engage the teeth of the star wheel in notches of the disk 22.1. A coiled spring I12 located in the bore I58 engages and yieldingly retains the bolt I27 in latching position. The releasing action of the bolt I2! is effected either by pull on a cable I'Ili that is attached to the bolt and extended through an opening IN to the outside of the housing or by pressure against the head portion I21 of the bolt that is exposed at the side of the housing.

Without going into a detailed description of the other structural features of the device as equipped with the alternative latch mechanism of Figs. 9 and 10, and it is thought sufiicient to say that in all other respects this device may conform to the structures shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and therefore undescrlbed parts in Figs. 9 and 10 have been given reference numerals corresponding to the same parts in t e device of Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door heck and closing device; a housing adapted for fixed mounting on a hingeddoor, a disk rotatably mounted thereby and having an operative connection with the door casing whereby the disk is caused to move rotatably in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door, a latch lever pivotally mounted in said housing and adapted to holdingly contact with the disk to retain the door at a set position, yieldable means acting against the lever to urge it into holding contact with the disk, a movable latch plate normally positioned to retain the latch lever disengaged from the disk and means for manually actuating the plate to disengage the latch lever to permit its engagement with the disk.

2. In a door check and holding device; a housing adapted for fixed mounting on a hinged door, a disk rotatably mounted on the housing, means connecting the disk with a door casing whereby the disk is caused to rotate relative to the housing in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door; said disk having peripheral teeth formed thereon, a latch lever pivotally mounted in the housing and adapted to, holdingly contact with th teeth of the disk to retain the door at a set position, yieldable means acting against the lever to urge it into holding contact with the disk teeth, and a manually movable means normally engaging the latch lever to retain it disengaged from the disk.

3. In a door check and closing device; a housing adapted for fixed mounting on a hinged door, a disk mounted for rotation on the housing, means operatively connecting the disk with the door casing whereby the disk is caused to rotate in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door; said disk having teeth formed about the periphery thereof, a latch lever pivotally mounted in the housing, means acting against the lever to urge it yieldingly against the disk for holding contact with the teeth thereof to retain the door at a set position, a movable latch plate engageable with the latch lever to normally retain it disengaged from the disk, means for manually actuating the plate to release the latch lever, and yieldable means acting against the plate to return it to holding position upon movement of the latch lever that disengages it from the disk.

4. In a door check and closing device; a housing adapted for fixed mounting on a hinged door, a disk mounted for axial rotation on the housing, linkage adapted for connecting the disk with a door casing whereby the disk is caused to rotate in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door; said disk having peripheral teeth thereon; a latch lever pivotally mounted in the housing, a spring acting against the lever to urge one end thereof into holding contact with teeth of the disk to retain the door at a set position, a latch plate formed wit-h a shoulder, spring means acting against the said plate to yieldingly retain it at a position at which said shoulder acts as a stop for the latch lever to hold it disengaged from the disk for free swinging of the door, manually operable means for withdrawing the latch plate to release said shoulder from the lever, and spring means for returning the latch plate to holding position when the lever is moved to a position released from the disk.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein the teeth of the disk are shaped to effect a camming action on the lever whereby the latch lever may be actuated to a position to free the disk by a manual application of force to the door in a closing or opening direction, and wherein this releasing movement of the lever frees the latch plate for return to holding position.

6. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein the latch lever, when released by the latch plate and moved to holding contact with the disk, assumes a position whereby it acts as a stop that prevents return of the latch plate to holding position, and wherein the disk teeth are shaped to produce a camming action in the latch lever to effect its release from holding contact with the disk and wherein th said shoulder is inclined in a manner whereby in the return to the latch plate to holding position it rides along the latch lever in a manner to effect a fart-her releasing movement of the lever to free it of the teeth.

'7. In a door check and holding device, a housing, a door actuating shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring acting on the shaft to effect the door closing rotation thereof, a locking disk fixed to the shaft, a locking member movably mounted in the housing, a spring acting against the said member to urge it into holding contact with the disk and a manually releasable latch normally engaging with the locking member to retain it from engagement with the disk.

8. In a door check and holding device, a housing adapted for fixed mounting on a hinged door,

a disk rotatably mounted on the housing, linkage connected with the disk and adapted for connection with a door casing whereby the disk will be caused to rotate in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door, a locking member movably mounted in the housing, a spring acting against said member to urge it into holding contact with the disk whereby to hold the door at a set position, a latch member normally engaging the lock member to retain it disengaged from the disk and a manually operable means for releasing the latch lever for engagement with the disk.

9. In a door check and holding device, a housing, a door actuatin shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring acting on the shaft to effect the door closing rotation thereof, a locking disk fixed to the shaft, 9. bolt mounted in the housing, a spring acting against the bolt to urge it into locking relationship with the disk, and a manually releasable latch normally engaged with the bolt to retain it from engagement with the disk.

10. In a door check and holding device, a housing, a door actuating shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring acting on the shaft to effect the door closing action thereof, a disk fixed to sure of its spring to a released position, and a releasable latch engageable with the bolt to retain it in the latter position. 1

11. In a door and holding device, a housing, a door actuating shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring acting against the shaft to effect the door closing action thereof, a disk fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith and having a notched, peripheral surface, a, locking bolt slidably mounted in the housing, a star wheel mounted on the end of the bolt in rolling mesh with the notched surface of the disk and a spring acting against the bolt to press adjacent point of the star wheel against the disk and to resist rotation thereof.

12. In a door check and holding device, a housing, a door actuating shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring acting against the shaft to effect the door closing action thereof, a disk fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith and having a notched peripheral surface, a locking bolt slidably mounted in the housing, a star wheel mounted on the end of the bolt in rolling mesh with the notched surface of the disk and a spring acting against the bolt to press adjacent points of the star wheel against the disk and to resist rotation thereof, said star wheel being adapted to be rotated by an application of rotative forces to the disk through the door actuating connection with the shaft, thereby to depress the locking bolt against the pressure of the spring engaged therewith, and a latch device engageable with the bolt when in the depressed position to retain it against return to locking position.

13. A device as recited in claim 12 wherein a yieldable means is mounted in the locking bolt to engage with the star wheel, to retain it from 15 rotating into holding contact with the disk.

ANDREW LARSON. 

